Latch for fire-escape doors.



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LATCH FOR FIRE-ESCAPE DOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented BL y 5, 1914.

Application filed December 2, 1913. Serial No. 804,252.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnonnrcn Gnss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Camden, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Latches for Fire-Escape Doors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to latches for the automatically opening doors of fire towers and the like, the one object of the invention being to provide novel latch mechanism adapted to be operated from the inside of the door, which latch mechanism is simple of construction, reliable and efficient in action, and not apt to get out of order.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a perspective view from the inside of an automatic door of the character described embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical transverse section thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating in detail the latch mechanism,

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the door casing, and 2 the door, which is hung on ordinary hinges 3 from the hinging side or jamb 1 of the door casing, so as to swing open in an outward direction. Thefdoor; is held closed by latch mechanism, hereinafter described, against pressure exerted thereon by one or more spring actuated opening devices, one of which is generally indicated at 5 in Fig. 1. l

The latch mechanism comprises a keeper bar 10 fixed to the door in proximity to the upper edge thereof and adapted to'be engaged by the hooked end 11 of a latch bar 12. Secured to the lintel of the door frame is a plate 13 carrying a substantially U-shaped bracket 14- embodying spaced vertical arms 15 and 16 connected at their lower ends by a cross piece 17 The outer arm 16 is disposed between the arm 15 and the door 2 and is bifurcated at its upper end to provide a guide slot 18 in which the latch bar 12 is vertically movable, the relatively inner end of said latch bar being pivoted to the arm 15, as at 19, and connected with the cross piece 17 by a coiled contractile spring 20, normally acting to draw the latch downward and hold it in engaging position.

When the door is closed, the keeper bar 10 slides over the curved edge or bill of the hook 11 and is engaged by the hook, whereby the door is latched in closed position, the spring 20 holding the latch down against any possibility of accidental displacement. The end of the latch is adapted to be tilted upward to withdraw it from engagement with the keeper bar 10, whereby the door will be released and, under the action of the opening devices, will be automatically swung to open position. For the purpose of releasing the latch, pull chains 21 or their equivalent are provided and pass through guides 22 on the inner sides of the jambs of the door casing and thence through guides 23 upon the lintel of the casing and are connected at their inner ends with the latch hook, the outer ends of the chains depending on opposite sides of the door frame and being provided at their lower ends with suitable handles 25, whereby when either chain is pulled the latch will be lifted and the door released for opening movement.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construc tion, use and mode of operation of the inven tion will be readily understood and it will be seen that simple and effective devices for holding the door latched against opening movement, and releasing the latch mechanism, are provided, and that the construction and arrangement of said devices is such that the latch mechanism can only be released in a prescribed way. Furthermore, it will be seen that the devices for the purposes set forth are of a type not apt to get out of order.

I claim A latch mechanism comprising a keeper member, a bracket having spaced arms, one of said arms being bifurcated to form a guide slot, a latch bar movable in said slot and pivoted to the other arm, said latch bar having a hooked end to engage the keeper member, a spring connecting the'latch bar In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 111 presence of tWo WltIlGSSGS;

With the bracket and tending to hold said FREDERICK GESS' latch bar in engaging position, and means Vitnesses: for tripping and releasing the latch bar LESLIE V. REEVE,

against the resistance of the spring. VVAYMAN MCQUAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

